SEO · 11 Oct 2021 · 3 min read

10 local SEO strategies for moving companies

A basic website isn’t enough to bring a moving company new customers. When someone needs a mover, they usually start with a Google search, and local SEO decides whether your business shows up in it.

Why local SEO matters for moving companies

Google has largely replaced the Yellow Pages as the first place people look for a local service, which makes ranking well there worth the investment on its own. It’s also one of the few channels that keeps generating free traffic once it’s set up, unlike paid ads that stop the moment the budget does. And because moving companies mostly compete against other movers nearby rather than national brands, a focused local campaign can show results within weeks rather than the six months to a year national SEO usually takes.

10 local SEO strategies to use

1. Claim your directory listings

Set up a business profile on Google, Bing Places and Yahoo Local, using your company name, phone number and address exactly as they appear everywhere else you’re listed. Consistency across directories and social profiles makes it easier for both customers and search engines to trust the listing.

2. Format your NAP data correctly

Your name, address and phone number need to sit in HTML that search engine bots can actually parse, not buried in an image or a script. Add schema markup on top of that so search engines get structured details about your services and reviews, not just plain text.

3. Get listed on review sites

Claim your business on TripAdvisor, Yelp, Foursquare and similar review sites, and keep the NAP details on each one consistent with your website and directory listings.

4. Add high-quality photos

Customers pay close attention to images when they’re comparing local businesses. Upload clear, high-quality photos to your Google, Bing and Yahoo business listings.

5. Manage your online reputation

Reviews are a ranking factor Google mentions explicitly for local results, so keep an eye on what customers are saying and respond to feedback, particularly on your Google Business Profile.

Many people check a business’s social media presence for reviews and recommendations before making contact, so positive, visible feedback there is worth cultivating alongside conventional review sites.

7. Set up a profile per branch

If you operate more than one branch, give each one its own social media presence rather than routing everything through a single company-wide account. It lets customers interact with their local branch directly and lets you use location-specific features on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

8. Publish locally targeted content

Blog posts and articles that speak to your specific service area carry more local SEO weight than generic content. A post on parking rules for moving trucks in your city, or the best time of year to move to avoid traffic, does more for local rankings than a generic “how to pack for a move” piece.

9. Don’t neglect mobile

Local searches happen on phones more often than not. Make sure your site is fully usable on a small screen before you invest further in content or links.

10. Adjust your title tags for location

Add a geographic descriptor to your title tags rather than relying on generic phrases. “Best moving company in India” tells both search engines and searchers where you operate; “highly rated moving company” doesn’t.

Conclusion

Local SEO, done properly, can put a moving company’s website in front of the customers already searching for one. Work through these ten points methodically rather than all at once, and the ranking gains tend to follow.